Jury Scam Back After Run in 2009

Reports of a telephone scam threatening prosecution and fines for not fulfilling federal jury service are prompting courts around the country to remind the public that they rarely contact jurors by phone. “Federal courts do not require anyone to provide any sensitive information in a telephone call,” David R. Herndon, chief judge of the Southern District of Illinois, wrote in a recent release. “Most contact between a federal court and a prospective juror will be through the U.S. mail, and any phone contact by real court officials will not include requests for social security numbers, credit card numbers or any other sensitive information.” Anyone receiving a scam call should contact the clerk's office of the U.S. district court. This is not the first time that scammers have targeted potential jurors. The U.S. courts released a video in 2009 warning of similar schemes.